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eMOLT Weekly Update 2023-02-24
Weekly Recap
For the past several years, we have supplied Rick Wahle’s Lab at the
Lobster Institute with Minilog temperature probes to install on some of
their lobster larvae settlement traps. Both Curt Brown and Jordan Drouin
typically deploy three probes at different depths in their area. See
station plots below. As part of our QA/QC routine, we check on the
depths recorded in the log files with those derived from bathymetric
datasets. Often times, as in at least one site this year, we needed to
check the positions as recorded in multiple ways (wheelhouse plotter,
googlemaps, and webserved nautical charts). It is critical we be as
accurate as possible in documenting these positions and depths. We need
make sure, for example, there isn’t any issues with units recorded. 
In recent years, many of the original eMOLT lobstermen have shortened
their season as they approach retirement. You can see this, for example,
in the case of Rick Alley’s plot (see below) where he only fished
Aug-Oct but long enough to document 2022 as being one of the warmest yet
at his Mid-Coast Maine location. 
For those captains who are still participating in the non-realtime
program, know that you have outlasted not just the sensor that we’ve
been using, but also the sensor manufacturer. With the Vemco Minilog no
longer in production, and no viable replacement candidate in the wings,
we’re hoping to begin to transition many of you over to the realtime
systems if you’re interested. If you’d like to learn more about how
those systems work, please stop by the GOMLF booth at the Forum next
week. If you aren’t going to be at the Forum, please feel free to send
George an email or call/text 508-299-9693. We’ll keep sending out the
minilogs as long as their batteries last, but the clock is definitely
running out on those sensors.
Northeast Cooperative Research Summit
It was great to see many current and retired eMOLT participants at
the Cooperative Research Summit in Providence last week.
Cooperative Research Branch Chief, Dr. Anna Mercer, gives an
introduction to cooperative research, encouraging scientists in the room
to work more closely with the fishing industry

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